Posted by John Crane on December 11, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Met this guy on the way up the mountain yesterday. Gorgeous day in the high country with fresh snow, blue sky... one of those day you're glad you live in Colorado. Enjoy.
Posted by Todd Caudle on December 11, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Really nice portrait!
Posted by Adam Schallau on December 11, 2007 at 1:17 PM
Nice! I get the feeling that the two of you stumbled upon each other.
Posted by Don Grall on December 11, 2007 at 1:21 PM
Good one, John. The snow makes for a nice frame and background.
Posted by Guy Schmickle on December 11, 2007 at 2:20 PM
Man, I'd kill to run into one of these guys in my travels! Very nice framing. I'd maybe consider removing the blue cast though.
Posted by John Crane on December 11, 2007 at 2:40 PM
Thanks guys. This is something I've been patiently seeking for years. I always bring my camera with me in the hopes I can get a big horn, close-where you can see the texture of his horns, etc. This was a chance encounter as I was heading up into the mountains to shoot something else. He was on the road. By the time I'd stopped and gotten my rig ready, another car had come in the opposite direction, scaring him up the bank. The cars pulled away (not knowing why I'd stopped...) and he and I were left there for just a moment. He looked at me just long enough to get this one, and another (http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p411347746-4.jpg) it was pretty cool. Something about Bighorns evoke a wild beauty of Colorado for me. Thanks for your comments. Oh-and the blue cast: I had WB set to auto and adjusted it in post (shot RAW), but intentionally left some blue. This was shot in a cold shadow of the canyon on an otherwise sunny day and I liked the affect.
Posted by James H Egbert on December 11, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Another Sweet Shot!
Posted by Paul Wegemann on December 11, 2007 at 8:53 PM
Nice shot John! BTW, I used to commute up and down the St. Vrain canyon daily, and every year, very consistently between January and March, I'd encounter Big Horn in the canyon (about 4 miles up from Lyons) each morning.
They would often stop traffic as they licked the road and would actually walk up to within inches of the open window of my truck. So, if you happen to be in the St. Vrain in the AM between January and March...
Posted by Dan Walters on December 12, 2007 at 9:12 PM
Nice shot. I like the comp. I am also always looking for bighorns. They make a great wildlife subject.
Posted by John Crane on December 13, 2007 at 12:30 AM
Paul-you just described exactly what happened the other morning-except he didn't walk up to my open truck window. Any idea why they lick the road? I wonder about the chemicals and the long-term effects on the animals from what they use to de-ice.
Posted by Paul Wegemann on December 13, 2007 at 11:44 PM
John, I've read that they like both salts and automobile anti-freeze, although I can't imagine there being that much anti-freeze on the road. A few years ago when CDOT started using the mag-chlor I wondered if it would change the habits of the sheep in the canyon, but it appears not to have.
Discussion
10 repliesThey would often stop traffic as they licked the road and would actually walk up to within inches of the open window of my truck. So, if you happen to be in the St. Vrain in the AM between January and March...